Font Forum

I've finished working on a font which, unfortunately, doesn't show its name in the font drop down list in Word 2003. Remarkably, once chosen the font shows the correct name. It also shows up in font lists in other programs. Any idea if the problem is in the font or could it be an error in Word?

This post should help:
Why don't applications display the font name?

I'm afraid this post doesn't help. I *did* delete the FNTCACHE.DAT file, but after a reboot the font still refuses to show its identity. I'm pretty sure the font is OK, as the name can be seen in other applications like WordPad, Publisher, PopChar, and MainType. What can be the problem?

Hi Joop,

Can you send a copy of the specific font directly to me? I'll see if I can identify your problem.

Hi Joop,

Thanks for sending the font file. I've installed it and I see no problems, as shown below.



One way to find out if this is due to a hiccup in Windows, is to open the font in FontCreator and then test the font by selecting Test in the Font menu. This will temporarily install the font. The name of the temporarily installed font looks like "FC Test Font 12345". So while the Test Font window is open, you will be able to check if the "test font" is shown in Word's font drop down list.

Note: When you open the Test Font window again you'll have to change the font's name in the application, because the temporary font name always changes.



Do let us know your results with the font test feature.

Strange! After temporarily installing the font it shows its FC Test Font ##### name. After installing it properly the real name is invisible again. The how and why is beyond me.
Anyhow, thanks for looking into this problem so promptly!

Hi Joop,

Good to know this is not a bug in FontCreator.

Maybe there are duplicates of the font in the Windows Fonts folder. Please use MainType to browse to that folder and see if this is true.

I narrowed the problem down to a temporary file Microsoft Office creates to cache the previews, “fbc*.tmp” located in C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Microsoft\Office\. I deleted this file, restarted Word, and now the previews display correctly.

FWIW,

MFM

Thanks for this useful information! I hope this solves Joops problem too.

It does! Thank you very much! How on earth did you find the fbc*.tmp file?

How on earth did you find the fbc*.tmp file?

I installed a new font, displayed the new preview in the Word font menu pull-down, then immediately performed a search on drive c for all files created today and sorted the results list by Date Modified. The fbc file was right at the top.

MFM

Hats off, Gentlemen! A genius!

How simple, and yet how beautiful!

Thanks!

Same problem - will try this fix, thanks!!

Had exactly the same problem, but deleting my “fbc*.tmp” file resolved the issue.

Thank you

Andy